SJC Ruling On Confession Leads To New Probe Of Northampton Fires

Arson and murder charges against a Northampton Massachusetts man have been dropped following a State Supreme Judicial Court ruling that tossed out the suspect’s confession. WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports.

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office said it is launching a new grand jury investigation into a series of nearly a dozens fires set in a Northampton neighborhood in the span of a few hours on December 27th, 2009.. One of the fires killed a father and son. 27 year old Anthony Baye admitted to state police investigators that he set some of the fires, but the state’s highest court recently ruled his statements inadmissible. Baye’s lawyer said he’d been subjected to constant browbeating. The DA initially said there was enough other evidence against Baye to proceed to trail, but on Monday , said that fairness dictates that a new grand jury look at the case. Baye is still facing charges he mislead police in thier investigation into the fires.